Howlong has set finals as a pass mark as it looks to implement a new culture on the back of two English imports. IN OTHER NEWS: The Spiders have finished second last and eighth in the past four years, but believes the professionalism of new coach Ryan Withers and top order batsman Jack Stockdale can snap a five-year finals drought. "At a minimum, finals," second-year president Caleb Chant said when quizzed on the club's goal. "One of Ryan's objectives straight away was to coach in finals and ultimately a grand final." Withers in now in his fourth year in Australia, mixing his time between Wangaratta and District outfit Ovens Valley United and Howlong. "We needed to get a bit more professional, the players just needed to get all the little things taught to them because they all know how to bat and bowl, but it's all about the basics, a lot of those can be forgotten about," he said. "With that more professional approach, hopefully we'll attract more players." And it's been a battle for numbers. "We're missing that age group around the 25 mark, we've got a lot of old blokes that are not interested in training so much, they just want to play cricket," Chant said. "We really struggled to get any local players, Ryan sent messages and spoke to hundreds of blokes, we just couldn't attract anyone to the club and we had exhausted all avenues with local players. "So we decided to look overseas and in the end we targeted who we wanted, like a top-order batsman, we've already got a handful of fast bowlers." Twenty-two-year-old Stockdale is a touch player, knocking the ball around, with his first innings last week resulting in a run out for nine against Barnawartha-Chiltern. "I've had quite a lot of injuries back home (Birmingham and District Premier League) and been unavailable for a lot of games due to work commitments, so it's nice to come here and commit to the full season (from here on)," he said. The club has worked diligently to build its junior base and Stockdale has joined the coaching staff. Teenager Ebony Hoskin sits 14th in the association with four wickets. "Ebony's superb, she puts in a lot of hard work and is getting the results," Withers said. "That's what I want, people putting in the hard work and you will get the results." Marcus Reid is also playing A grade, while Hoskin's brother Toby and Lachie Harvey are lower graders. Howlong is away to Eskdale on Saturday.

The Spiders have finished second last and eighth in the past four years, but believes the professionalism of new coach Ryan Withers and top order batsman Jack Stockdale can snap a five-year finals drought.

"At a minimum, finals," second-year president Caleb Chant said when quizzed on the club's goal.

"One of Ryan's objectives straight away was to coach in finals and ultimately a grand final."

Withers in now in his fourth year in Australia, mixing his time between Wangaratta and District outfit Ovens Valley United and Howlong.

"We needed to get a bit more professional, the players just needed to get all the little things taught to them because they all know how to bat and bowl, but it's all about the basics, a lot of those can be forgotten about," he said.

"With that more professional approach, hopefully we'll attract more players."

And it's been a battle for numbers.

"We're missing that age group around the 25 mark, we've got a lot of old blokes that are not interested in training so much, they just want to play cricket," Chant said.

"We really struggled to get any local players, Ryan sent messages and spoke to hundreds of blokes, we just couldn't attract anyone to the club and we had exhausted all avenues with local players.

"So we decided to look overseas and in the end we targeted who we wanted, like a top-order batsman, we've already got a handful of fast bowlers."

Twenty-two-year-old Stockdale is a touch player, knocking the ball around, with his first innings last week resulting in a run out for nine against Barnawartha-Chiltern.

"I've had quite a lot of injuries back home (Birmingham and District Premier League) and been unavailable for a lot of games due to work commitments, so it's nice to come here and commit to the full season (from here on)," he said.

The club has worked diligently to build its junior base and Stockdale has joined the coaching staff.

Teenager Ebony Hoskin sits 14th in the association with four wickets.

"Ebony's superb, she puts in a lot of hard work and is getting the results," Withers said.

"That's what I want, people putting in the hard work and you will get the results."

Marcus Reid is also playing A grade, while Hoskin's brother Toby and Lachie Harvey are lower graders.